Planned Parenthood will be closing four rural Wisconsin locations between April and July because the nonprofit health care organization has lost $1.1 million in state funding, officials announced Monday.
The centers in Beaver Dam, Johnson Creek, Chippewa Falls and Shawano don’t get enough private funding to stay financially viable without the state support, which the Legislature eliminated in the 2011-’13 state budget.
While the anti-choice crowd will no doubt applaud the closing of these four Planned Parenthood locations as a victory, Planned Parenthood provides many other services besides abortions. According to officials from Planned Parenthood, the four clinics that are being closed are the only reproductive health care providers in their communities, which means that approximately 2,000 low-income residents who need cancer screenings, breast exams, access to birth control, pregnancy tests, or testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases may have to travel up to an hour to go to a location in another county. In fact, just three percent of all Planned Parenthood health services are abortion services.
No doubt we can expect to see more attacks on the rights of women in Wisconsin at the hands of Republican legislators (mostly men) who seem to think they know better than women when it comes to a woman’s reproductive health decisions.
Thanks Zach.
Pro-choice Ronald Reagan must be spinning in his grave over who has taken over the GOP.
This issue is similar to the immigration issue for Repubs. Notice the Bush’s were all elected in states–Texas and Florida–with large illegal immigrant numbers. This was and is encouraged by the food processors and planters in the regions. It is a huge part of the Conservative economy. So, no matter what a Republican tells you, that legislator will find any excuse to delay or withhold immigration legislation.
Planned parenthood is opposed by the Churches, not only for moral reasons, but for economic reasons as well, because it reduces the appeal of fund raising and the price of religious health care facilities. Psychologically, it reduces the authority of the Church hierarchy and healthcare advertising.
Of course, most Church leaders are genuinely concerned about the moral issue, but their marketing professionalism compells them to back Republicans, who are all about population control. Conversely, Progressives are all about controlling the legislators. Thus we have this fight, literally, to the death. For America to prosper, a way to compromise must be found.
This is so frickin’ sad. Yeah, thanks Zach for posting this.
The Repugnicans are quite happy to sacrifice women’s health and even generate extra children out of wedlock, so long as they can demonstrate their power.
Simple answer to the problem stop killing babies and get your funding.
Do you agree that hospitals should provide emergency contraception for victims of rape/ incest?
@John – yes unless it is against the hospital philosphy